Alan Charles Wilder is a renowned English musician, composer, arranger, record producer, and former member of the iconic electronic band Depeche Mode from 1982 to 1995.
Born on June 1, 1959, Alan Wilder is the youngest boy in a middle-class family of three boys, raised in Acton, West London. His parents encouraged him to start playing the piano at the age of eight, which led to his interest in music. He later learned the flute at St Clement Danes grammar school and became a leading musician in his school bands.
After completing his education, Alan worked as a studio assistant at DJM Studios, which led to collaborations with various bands, including the Dragons, Dafne & the Tenderspots, Real to Real, the Hitmen, and the Korgis. His notable work with the Korgis includes appearing on the UK No. 13 single "If I Had You" in 1979.
Alan Wilder joined Depeche Mode in January 1982, initially as a tour keyboardist, and soon became a full member of the recording band. His first studio contribution was on the single "Get the Balance Right!" in December 1982. He wrote a handful of songs for Depeche Mode, including "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape Is Changing," and co-wrote "Black Day" from the album Black Celebration.
Wilder's notable contributions to Depeche Mode were as a musician, arranger, and producer. He played synthesizer throughout his time with the band and also played piano on the band's signature ballad "Somebody." In the documentary film 101, Wilder demonstrated how different synthesizer parts of a song are split and arranged across a sampling keyboard for playing them live during concerts.
For the recording of the album Songs of Faith and Devotion and its corresponding Devotional Tour, Wilder also played live drums. He re-envisioned Martin Gore's demo of "Enjoy the Silence" from the album Violator, turning it into a percolating, melodic dance track that became one of the most commercially successful songs in Depeche Mode's history.
In 2020, Alan Wilder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Depeche Mode. He is a classically trained musician and has also provided production and remixing services to other bands, including Nitzer Ebb and Curve.
